Police take over mall for active shooter drill

Published: Sunday, July 13, 2014 at 11:12 p.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, July 13, 2014 at 11:12 p.m.

The average active shooting event lasts 12 minutes, according to FBI officials, but local law enforcement was ready to spend hours Sunday night perfecting how they respond to such an incident.

After Independence Mall on Oleander Drive had closed for business, the parking lot was overtaken by police, medics and other public safety personnel for an active shooter training exercise.

The exercise could be brief, but Wilmington Police Department Deputy Chief Marshall Williamson said the overall training would be lengthy. Participating officers were to evaluate their response after the exercise.

"It could last 30 minutes," Williamson said. "But we'll be out here well into the morning."

Sunday's training was part of annual training hosted by the Charlotte Division of the FBI in the state.

Special Agent Aaron Seres said there was no specific reason Wilmington or Independence Mall were selected. However, local law enforcement were eager for the training, he said.

"Hopefully this is the kind of training you never need to use," Seres said.

While Sunday's training appeared tame on the outside, Seres said real life incidents are chaotic and require pre-planned responses.

"You don't know who's a good guy and who's a bad guy," he said.

Signs were taped on mall doors alerting curious spectators to stay away from the training incident. The mall's main entrances were blocked with orange cones and signs about the training.

Williamson said it was necessary to keep the public, and media outlets covering the training, at a distance because safety is crucial even in fictional scenarios.

"When you have an active shooter, you want to keep people back as far as we can," he said, adding the incident could quickly change from a contained incident to a larger scale public safety risk.

In addition to Wilmington police and FBI agents, the New Hanover County Sheriff's Office, New Hanover County Emergency Management, New Hanover Regional Emergency Medical Services and the Wilmington Fire Department participated in the training event.

<p>The average active shooting event lasts 12 minutes, according to FBI officials, but local law enforcement was ready to spend hours Sunday night perfecting how they respond to such an incident.</p><p>After <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/topic9966"><b>Independence Mall</b></a> on Oleander Drive had closed for business, the parking lot was overtaken by police, medics and other public safety personnel for an active shooter training exercise.</p><p>The exercise could be brief, but Wilmington Police Department Deputy Chief Marshall Williamson said the overall training would be lengthy. Participating officers were to evaluate their response after the exercise.</p><p>"It could last 30 minutes," Williamson said. "But we'll be out here well into the morning."</p><p>Sunday's training was part of annual training hosted by the Charlotte Division of the FBI in the state.</p><p>Special Agent Aaron Seres said there was no specific reason Wilmington or Independence Mall were selected. However, local law enforcement were eager for the training, he said.</p><p>"Hopefully this is the kind of training you never need to use," Seres said.</p><p>While Sunday's training appeared tame on the outside, Seres said real life incidents are chaotic and require pre-planned responses.</p><p>"You don't know who's a good guy and who's a bad guy," he said.</p><p>Signs were taped on mall doors alerting curious spectators to stay away from the training incident. The mall's main entrances were blocked with orange cones and signs about the training.</p><p>Williamson said it was necessary to keep the public, and media outlets covering the training, at a distance because safety is crucial even in fictional scenarios.</p><p>"When you have an active shooter, you want to keep people back as far as we can," he said, adding the incident could quickly change from a contained incident to a larger scale public safety risk.</p><p>In addition to Wilmington police and FBI agents, the <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/topic9932"><b>New Hanover County Sheriff</b></a>'s Office, New Hanover County Emergency Management, New Hanover Regional Emergency Medical Services and the Wilmington Fire Department participated in the training event.</p><p>Between 70 and 80 personnel were part of the exercise.</p><p>Caitlin Dineen: 343-2339</p><p>On <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/news41"><b>Twitter</b></a>: @CaitlinDineen</p>